Pediocactus

Pediocactus Britton & Rose ()
🌵 Author(s)

🌵 Type Pediocactus simpsonii
Etymology

Greek pedion ‘plain’ + Cactus. For the occurrence on the Great Plains (Britton & Rose: “Plains-cactus”). Not “Gr. ‘pedion’, plane, field; and Lat. ‘cactus’, cactus; for the frequent occurrence on level ground” (Eggli & Newton, Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names. 2004).

The English name foot cactus stems from the erroneous assumption that the first part of the compound is Latin pes (stem ped-) ‘foot’ (pes + Cactus would be Pedicactus).


How to cite

Maarten H.J. van der Meer (2023 Jul 14). Pediocactus. Dictionary of Cactus Names. Retrieved from https://www.cactusnames.org/Pediocactus

Pronunciation
[PED-e-o-KAK-tus]

A.T. Johnson, H.A. Smith & A.P. Stockdale (2019): Plant Names Simplified, 3rd Edition

[pee-dee-oh-KAK-tus]

Ross Bayton (2019): The Garderner's Botanical

[Pediocáctus]

Helmut Genaust (1996): Etymologisches Wörterbuch der botanischen Pflanzennamen, 3. Auflage

“Botanical Latin is essentially a written language, but the scientific names of plants often occur in speech. How they are pronounced really matters little provided they sound pleasant and are understood by all concerned.”

William T. Stearn (1983): Botanical Latin, 3rd Edition: 53